"JW and Jerome's Ecstatic ECSTASY Adventures"

[tkportersat]

OMG! I just sat here cracking up at my desk at work. That is hilarious :)

No where near the Ecstasy anymore (sadly), just reading this for the entertainment value. Great review!

 

The Legend of the Traveling Pants

 

After our lovely Room Service snackiepoo, which became a nightly ritual for us as I loved the Tenderloin Sandwich, (oh it’s so good just wait till you try it!), Jerome and I got our outfits together for Dinner at Eight and sprawled them out on the bed in an organized fashion. We each took turns in the boudoir, showering, shaving and etc. I, as usual, went first, and consequently, I dressed first.

 

Now a side note as to what I was wearing. We have a store here in our community called Beall’s. It’s pronounced Bell’s but everyone wants to say Beeeall’s. Anyway, twice a year, I order a new pair of pants from them specifically to take on a cruise. Let’s say it’s a man’s version of "The Little Black Dress”. Now, I know my exact size and I know the brand. The pants have always fit perfectly, are a poly blend so no wrinkles. They fold and travel very well and are just the right thing to take cruising as they have an elastic expandable waist band, that make them very comfortable, especially after all thirteen meals a day I consume! I usually order them online about 6 weeks out for a sailing, My size is 36 waist by 32 long and has not changed in a decade.

 

So back in late July, I place my usual order, and the pants arrive in a timely fashion. I removed the labels not paying very much attention to them, and having ordered these same pants many times before, I trusted the store to provide me with the correct size. My bad. Here is what happened.

 

I was so excited, as I love the first night’s dinner on a cruise and the opportunity to parade around in new cruise wear! So here I had brand new, bold and bright, Perry Ellis multicolored striped socks, a bright matching shirt, (actually which had so many colors that it looked like Walt Disney himself threw up all over me!) and of course, my new black pants with brand new Kenneth Cole shoes. Jerome was in the shower by the time I finished dressing. I looked down at my feet, and from (Key words here) My Perspective, my shoes looked great and I could see my bright striped socks. But without a full length mirror, or Jerome to tell me otherwise, I thought I was “Working It Baby!” Thought? Oh Hails No! I Knew I was Working It!

 

Like a butterfly ready to come out of it's cocoon, I was getting antsy, and wanted to go and parade around the bar in the Atrium with my Martini, hob knob and show off my bright colors. I yelled to Jerome in the shower that I would meet him at the bar and he said, “Okay, see you out there in a few!” I grabbed by S&S card and out the door I went, strolling like a Peacock in my Disney Drag into The Atrium. Oh, I got the reaction I wanted, yes sir. Everyone turned and looked, some even pointed. “Oooh” I was thinking, “They all like my Debonair, Suave-ish-ness, Disneyfied, Personified, Gorgeousness!” Not exactly. Boy that bubble burst fast! I kept wondering why everyone was looking at my shoes. They were nice, yes, but just normal Kenneth Cole Flat Fronts, and I knew that no one would see my striped socks until I sat down. So what were they all staring and pointing at?

 

I looked down, and at first, again, from my perspective, could not see it. Then it dawned on me. How is it that I can see my bright, boldly striped socks? Hmmm. Oh My Gawd! I took a deep breath and screamed right there in The Atrium and the sound was heard all the way to the roof and down thru every passage way! Even Jennifer over at Guest Services looked over her counter thinking that something happened to me, and even her eyes went straight down to my feet. Oh My Gawd!

 

Then I heard “Expecting a flood?”, from someone at the bar. I looked over at Jennifer and she had a raised eyebrow and inquisitive look. Several passengers in line at Guest Services were chuckling. Oh My Gawd! The Traveling Pants fit at the waist, but were short. Not just short, but SHORT! I was mortifiedI How could I have not checked this out? I could not believe that I placed all my trust in Beall’s to send me the correct pair, like they did so many times before, that I did not need to check the size. Horrified and quite embarrassed, I sprinted back to the cabin and opened the door to Jerome standing right there. He took one look at me standing in the doorway, then hit me with a hurricane barrage of pot shots “JW, what did you do?”….“Look at those pants!”…“What did you do to those pants?”… “They are so short!”… “Are those your new pants?…”You actually walked outside to the bar in that get-up?”..."JW you look so silly!"..."JW did anyone see you in that get up?"..."JW what a boob!"

 

“I have never been more embarrassed in my whole life”, I said to Jerome as I slumped down on the bed. “Oh yes you have”, he shot back, “Many times.” “This is right up there with the best of them, though.”

 

Needless to say, I love these pants. Not these Shorty‘s, but the ones that are in the proper size. I can wear them for three or four nights on a cruise with a different shirt and not have to pack several different pairs of pants. But now, I had no other black pants. Crapola. Crapola. I am a boob. Crapola. So, Trouble wore Jeans that night with the Disney Drag shirt.

 

Jerome said, after I had changed my pants again, “JW, we still have some time, let’s go up to the Casino and cash in our Casino Players Club Coupons in before we meet the guys for dinner.” “You'll be able to introduce yourself to the Casino Host and we even have some time to play the slots a bit before dinner.” He continued….”That should make you feel better.”

 

Far be it for me NOT to want to go to the Casino. If you have read my other reviews, you know that the Casino is my second home. Dang those pants!

[TBMVette]

Hilarious, JW! Just one pic....please!!!:p

[pghsteelerfan]

This has to be the funniest review I have ever read!!! I love it and will keep coming back for more. Thank you for putting a big smile on my face. :)

[Bibble]

Hilarious, JW! Just one pic....please!!!:p

 

We all just KNOOOOOOOOW you have a picture.

Please share!!!!!!

[#55worktoplay]

OMG, I am sitting here laughing out loud which I don't do very often, not because I am a sourpuss just because I laugh more inwardly, anyways this is so good I AM laughing out loud, my husband thinks I have lost it. I really do hope you have a picture to share, I cannot wait to see it.

 

This is the first review of your's that I have read but I will be digging up the others for sure.

 

I would like to say that both you and Jerome are wonderful human beings for what you do with your house during the holidays and you can expect a donation in the mail all the way from Canada to show my appreciation for what you do. I have a precious little girl (dog) who was a rescue from Cozumel so this is very near to my heart what you do.

 

Thanks

[missygirl]

I agree we need a visual...we have to see pictures...:)

[boaterette]

You are so hilarious. I just love your reviews. You are such a story teller.:D

[cruiseguys2009]

Picture of the Traveling Pants:

 

So sorry, The best opportunity for Jerome to capture that pic was when I returned to the room, but neither one of us thought about it at all, as I was truly mortified. Now I wish we had taken one. I left the pants on board, as too long of a time had passed with which to return them, and I gave them to our Room Steward, not that he would fit them either, but asked him to see if anyone could fit into them and ultimately use them.

[cruiseguys2009]

Casino Royal

 

 

Jerome and I made our way up to the Casino. I love our Cabin location. Just 15 steps to The Atrium Bar, 10 steps to the stairway going up or down. One flight up, The Wind Song Restaurant and The Blue Lagoon Theater. Two flights up, The Casino and all the entertainment venues. Three flights up, I am tired. Four flights up, I quit.

 

So Jerome and I have our Casino Cash Promo Coupons in our hands and we make our way into the Casino to the Cashier Cage. There we meet a funny and handsome Cashier named Anthony. We became fast friends throughout the trip, and I was always needing change or cashing out winnings on my card with Anthony. Funny story. One night, I was so inebriated that I went up to him and instead of asking him to break my usual large bill in my hand for me, I handed him the bill while demanding to him that “I want some money!“ Well didn’t poor Anthony hesitate for a minute thinking that I might be trying stick up the joint, but then he just said “I see, JW, you reached your 1,000 point goal for the Drinks On Us Card”. It took me two days to figure out that he finally meant that I was overly imbibed. Tonight though, as it was our first night in the Casino, I asked Anthony, as I presented my Cash Promo Coupon to him, “Who is the Casino Host?” Anthony pointed to his right, and just along side me was a shorter, but handsome, dark skin man named Kumbu.

 

Not the least of what I expected in a Casino Host. Usually, it's been my experience, I have found the Casino Hosts to be overpowering, over conversing, over eager, very demanding, and most of all, they were all women! Women anxious to relieve men, straight men, of their problems. See these men have a "Problem". They have money. So the female Casino Hosts do their job by having magical powers to relieve these men of their "Problems". Only problem is, these gals have no power over Moi. "Trouble" has just met Kumbu. Problem!

 

Now Kumbu, on the other hand, as a Casino Host, was much different. He had the brightest smile that was attached to a perfect, tight little body, and had a personality to match. Great, scrumptious, complete package. Not overbearing and definitely a whole lot of fun. He was a genuinely supportive Casino Host. By that I mean, he actually cheered me and the other Guest’s on! We had loads of fun, and my goal for the five days was to get the “Drinks On Us” Package, which provides you free cocktails while gaming after you reach 1,000 points in a slot machine.

 

Kumbu was gracious to Jerome and I by welcoming us to the Casino and offering us a complimentary cocktail. “Yes, Please!” We were introduced to a beauty of a cocktail server named Sheryl from The Phillipines. Sheryl and I were practically inseparable the entire voyage when the Casino was open. First, because it was my goal to get to the 1,000 point Drinks On Us Level, then second, to enjoy as many libations as possible, after I succumbed to my goal. And succumb I eventually did. By mid cruise, Sheryl became Sherry then Cherry! “Hey Cherry!“ I would call out, as I needed another drinkipoo. Oh My! JW has some advice for my kiddies. My advice, "Don‘t get to 1,000 points". Too many libations then come your way, and then the only machine that pays off is that new one that is known by those three letters. The ATM. I swear, for the whole week, that was the only machine that I won at!. But, that’s another story.

 

I had a knack for renaming everyone in the Casino after enjoying several libations.

 

Kumbu hopefully was amused by me, as the week progressed. Because as I found myself in the "1,000 Points of Light Drinks On Us" Program, having enjoyed two martini's Kumbu became Kimba, three martini's Kimba then came out as Simba, and finally it was time for Trouble to go to the Cabin when Simba later became The Lion King! You know everyone looks like a handsome Lion after the fifth martini, right?

 

I keep getting away from myself. Back to the first night.

 

Jerome and I settled in on a couple of the new Betty Boop Machines and I hit a bonus right off. Jerome lost all his money and that was bye bye for him, and gave up for the rest of the cruise. Me, on the other hand, am an investor. I go purposely to lose and to eventually get the perks. If I win a jackpot, it gets reinvested back into the machine. So the perks in the future equal the continuing investment. This way, the Casino knows that I am a guaranteed slot player and will field future promotions to me according to my level of play. For instance, a complimentary cruise, Casino Promo Cash, Complimentary Cocktails, Chocolate Covered Strawberries, and Complimentary Champagne in our cabin. There is a bevy of gifts and what not’s that flow our way, plus I have a good deal of fun.

 

Each cruise I set a certain amount of money aside per day to lose. Once I reach that goal, I am disciplined enough to quit for the day. On this sailing, I got lucky right off and was able to reinvest my winnings to increase my point status, obtaining my 1,000 point goal. So essentially, I reached my goal using the Casino’s money and not mine. However, as I said a minute ago, once I got the “Drinks On Us” card, all my winnings turned into a Big, Fat, Drunken Deficit.

 

The Casino itself is a very good size. Has the kind of machines I want to play and I enjoy playing. Great variety of themes and also has the most popular games. Plenty of Black Jack tables with fair betting minimums. Several Roulette and Craps tables that were always active. The Casino was the exact layout of what I remember it was when we were on the Sensation, but I thought that The Ecstasy had a few more tables.

 

There was also that wildly popular “Key Machine" with all the Hanging Stuff to win. You put a dollar in the machine and if you get the key in the hole just exactly right, then turn the key,you win the prize you are going for and it drops down into the slot. Prizes range on The Ecstasy from several hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. The person who one the Jackpot prize of $2,000 was in our Cruise Critic group and he had only invested a dollar. Good for him!

 

My Betty Boop Bonus begot another Betty Boop Bonus, which then begot another Betty Boop Bonus, and guess what? One more! Jerome said, “JW, it’s 15 past 8, we were supposed to meet the guys at 8.” I said, “Jerome, you know I am not going to leave a HOT machine.” “Can you please go and meet them and I will be right there.” Jerome waited a bit, and as soon as he walked away the machine went south. “Drat’s!” I turned to Sheryl, who by the way not only just asked me if I wanted another cocktail, but how brilliantly colorful my shirt was, (see, people loved my Disney Drag!), but I told her thank you for the compliment and declined the libation. Yes, JW declined another drink, at this time. This butterfly flew off so as not to miss a moments gossip with the guys at dinner. Fly! Fly! Fly!

 

So I am running out of the Casino into the Atrium, past the Photo Shop area, thinking “I’m Late, I’m Late!” when I look down over the railing to the floor below, towards the entrance of the Wind Song Restaurant and there, standing outside the dining room, were Jerome, Chris and Jeff. Oh good, I did not miss a thing yet! They were in some sort of line surrounded by about two hundred other fine folks who also had the idea to have Dinner at Eight. So here I was, rushy, rushy, rushy and for naught. I stopped dead center at the railing, between the two glass elevators and belted out a big fat “Oh Yoooo Hooo!”. Yep, I did. Me, this tired old Queen called over the railing while waving like a gay box of birdies from above, down to the boys below. I thought it would be fun mimicking The Hat Lady from a previous cruise Jerome and I were on. Jerome and the other two just stood there. I knew they heard me, but Jerome probably told them to just ignore me.

 

Once again I bellowed a high pitched girlie girl voice “Oh, You Hoooo!” This time, Jerome’s shoulders went up, I got his attention! Not only that, but I also got the attention of everyone else in or near the Atrium. Up and down the inside of the Atrium. People began to come to the railing to see what was going on. People looked up at me from The Atrium Bar. Then all of the sudden about a dozen or so "You Hooooo's!" came shouting back from all directions. I had to Tinkle with excitement! People probably thought I was part of a show or something. Well I am, sort of, I guess. The show they got was this big ol’ Disney Drag Queen imbibed just enough to rattle the windows in the Atrium with my mating cry! I even waved to Jennifer from two floors below as she looked up at me just shaking her head, laughing. Jerome turned to Chris and Jeff, and my lip reading skills were in perfect form, as I knew he had just said, “Oh Lordy, Do you see what I have to deal with? “

 

Here Comes Trouble!

[cruzzza]

It takes a LOT to make me laugh at something someone writes in a review or on any forum online (Facebook, Cruise Critic, etc), but darn it, I almost spit my drink all over my screen when reading about your pants! I did truly LOL! :D

 

Keep it coming - MORE, MORE!

[cruiseguys2009]

It takes a LOT to make me laugh at something someone writes in a review or on any forum online (Facebook, Cruise Critic, etc), but darn it, I almost spit my drink all over my screen when reading about your pants! I did truly LOL! :D

 

Keep it coming - MORE, MORE!

 

 

Love it, thanks.

[cruiseguys2009]

Dinner At Eight

 

“Excuse me”, “Pardon me”, “Coming through!” “Excuse me, I have to tinkle!” “Thank you!” I was constantly pleading as I tried to manuver through the throng of crowds, waiting to get into the Wind Song Anytime Dining Room, and catch up with Jerome and the boys. Then one couple I passed says to me “Oh Look, It’s Yooo Hooo Boy!” “Oh, Yooo Hooo!” The woman shouts to me. I glance back with an adoring smile, like Kim Kardashian just being recognized. Oh My Goodness, I am going to be forever known for the next five days as the Yooo Hoo Boy!

 

I finally catch up to Jerome, to which he says “Nice Show, Trouble!” Chris and Jeff both smile and still have not quite figured me out yet. For that matter, has anyone? "I" haven't figured "ME" out yet. We approach the front desk and Chris and I speak to the hostess, each of us giving her our cabin numbers and requesting that we wanted a table for four.

 

The young lady plugs the information into the computer, then lifts her eyes from the screen and looks at me, then reaches to tap the shoulder of an imposing man in a black tuxedo behind her. It turns out to be Hector, the Maitre ‘D, who cordially introduces himself to us, welcomes us and then has another young lady escort us to our table. Now, in any other restaurant, if we were anyone else, we would have immediately turned down the table we were led to. It was located along the main aisle on the right side of the ship, but not at the window. We sat directly next to the Service Alley. The traffic was constant. But as each night progressed, the traffic became more entertainment fodder rather than a nuisance. Kiddies, you'll see soon enough. However, that being said, we had the most amazing Head Waiter Michael and his Assistant Waiter, Setywan, that for the next five nights, we insisted that they take care of us. We would not have wanted to move tables, even if someone paid us. Although to sit at the table next to us became a dangerous proposition for anyone who dared.

 

Chris and Jeff had the “Cheers” unlimited drink promotion, so the Cocktail Server in the Restaurant took very good care of them, as a matter of fact, one of the first people we saw each night as soon as we sat down, was the Cocktail Server. Needless to say, after this first dinner and the hilarity that ensued, Jerome and I just had to spend each night with these two funny, comedic, party boys. It was Dinner at Eight every night from then on.

 

Setywan, presented the first night’s menu’s to us and all I could think was “Holy Moley Golly Miss Molly, Look at this Adonis!“ “Wow you are Gorgeous!” I said out loud, with Jerome shaking his head in disbelief and the other two just staring at me, not believing what I just said aloud, is also what they too were thinking. Sometimes my martini’s do get the best of me and I just come out with things that should be better left unsaid. Setywan just looked at me, and turned quickly and ran into the Service Alley, whispering something to Michael. “JW,” Jerome said, “Would you keep your mouth shut!” “You are going to get us thrown overboard!” I turned to Jerome and said “I would love to be thrown overboard by Sety-man!” (That’s when it started. I altered Setywan's name and it went to Sety-man that night. Then bastardized it even more the following night, see below) Chris and Jeff just sat there not saying a word, obviously enjoying the back and forth banter between Jerome and I.

 

So once again, I looked down into the abiss of the menu and began to peruse the night’s dining selections all the while I was thinking to myself, “Hmmmm, now how am I going to get these two boys to spill it on how they know each other?“

 

I have to digress, back to Setywan, the Assistant Waiter. On the very next night when I arrived in the dining room, certainly well imbibed, I called him SWEETEE MAN. "Yoooo Hoooo Sweeteeman!", I said as I waved at him. He hung his head in embarrassment. “You my man baby!” Setywan was a good sport about it. So good looking. He was tall, about 6 feet, dark complexion, perfectly coifed jet black hair, the kind of perfect black color that can’t be matched from a box of Lady Clairol. He had a marvelous, stoic presence. Setywan was constantly chided by the rest of the staff that he is the body builder of the crew. While everyone else goes to the Crew Lounge after work, Setywan goes to the Crew Gym to exercise, we were told. He did have the most amazing physique, we could tell. “Oh Sweeeteeman!” I would call out, then the rest of the crew would laugh and giggle. The best is when the staff does the “Low ,Low, Low” dance. (The Dining Room Staff dances to various music each night, one of the fun throwbacks to the original Carnival FunShip Cruising) Oh yes, Setywan can dance too! “Whoop!” “Whoop!” I would say as I was flinging my napkin around and around. “Whoop!” “Whoop!” “You go Sweeteeman!”

 

Our Head Waiter Michael was a young, tall and very professional Asian gentleman, who knew exactly how to perform his job and he performed it flawlessly for us, each and every night. I was impressed with Michael and his amazing attention to detail.

 

Now I am not an easy person to please in a restaurant. I have been in the business for 35 years and have done it all. I always say, that those who serve well, serve as good as I have done. Those that exceed my expectations are extraordinarily special, as they have the Want and Desire too overwhelm the Guest.

 

Michael exceeded my expectations each night. From the replacement of silverware, preparing us for the next course, to us never having to wait between courses for any length of time. Michael paced our meals perfectly, not ever rushing us, and most important, constantly checking on our satisfaction of the food we enjoyed. On one night, when I cut into my steak, it was not Medium Rare as I had ordered, but more Medium Well. However the flavor was very good, and I am not one to send my steak back. I was simply just going to eat it anyway and not say anything. Michael looked at my steak from afar, saw that it was not the proper temperature and insisted that he have a new dish prepared. He did this without my asking. That is a big WOW. That is also someone who cares about his Guest, his Company and his Profession. After reading so many other reviews to the contrary, Jerome and I were concerned about the level of Service in the Dining Room and our concerns were laid to rest with this particular team. Utterly Spectacular. Not at all like the cold, uncaring, mundane service we received on The Legend in 2011. What a turnaround. But Jerome and I also worried that maybe it was a fluke, we got the luck of the draw. That being said, in our opinion, our dining room service was simply Outstanding.

 

“So Chris,” I began, as he looked up from his menu and then as Jeff took a sip off his Windex Martini with his pinkie up, suddenly cracking a ‘Let‘s see you get out of this one’ kind of smirk at Chris, “How did you two meet?”

Edited October 12, 2013 by cruiseguys2009

[Mommzie]

:Popcorn: and :Pepsi:

 

Well, how did they meet?!?!?!?!

[welshcorgie]

Come on....We are waiting with baded breath!! How did they meet?????

[cruiseguys2009]

Round and Round We Go!

 

Chris looks up at me from his menu, turns to Jeff and says, “Do you want to tell him or do you want me to tell him?” Jeff said in reply, “You tell him, you are much better at it.” By the way, during the whole story, they BOTH talked over one another in rapid fire form, so I am going to let the story unfold, my kiddies without the “He Said, He Said”

 

Well, Chris began, Jeff was in a relationship for about five years with this guy, were living together and whom Chris ended up meeting somewhere or another along the way. Then Chris began having a relationship with this same guy, unbeknownst to Jeff or himself, that the guy with seeing the other at the very same time. How this guy, whom I will call Whozeewhatsit Som-ina-britch, could manipulate and keep track of his time and such, is incredible to say the least. As time went by, Jeff ended up finding out about Chris and Whozeewhatsit Som-ina-britch and then invites Chris to lunch. Who would do that? You can just imagine how that went. “I’ll Get You My Pretty and Your Little Dog Too!” sort of lunch. Can someone say Cat fight?

 

Eventually, after the fateful luncheon, the claws were out, and it was the battle royal for Whozeewhatsit Som-ina-britch. In my opinion, I would have dropped the Whozeewhatsit Som-ina-britch in a New York Minute, but the competition between the boys ensued. Long story short, after bouncing between the two, I guess Whozeewhatsit Som-ina-britch chose Chris. Well then all three, Chris, Jeff and Whozeewhatsit Some-ina-britch MOVE IN TOGETHER!!??? “What?” My mouth dropped open and Jerome spit up his drink. Chris and Whozeewhatsit Som-ina-britch shared one bedroom and Jeff continued to live with them in a separate bedroom, all in wedded bliss until such time that Whozeewhatsit Som-ina-britch did it again with another boy, and soon found himself on the sidewalk with his possessions thrown curbside. Heard of “A Woman’s Scorn”? Well nothing compares to Gay Rage. Honey, someone goes near Jerome, I can turn them into fairy dust before Judy Garland can say “There’s No Place Like Home”

 

Somewhere in the middle of all of this, Chris and Jeff start seeing each other behind Whoziwhatsit Som-ina-britch’s back and I just sat there mesmerized at the planning and logistics and the stories one must have to concoct to pull off such a charade. All three of them were in on this. Brilliant television writing. What a real life soap opera! Truth is stranger than fiction, folks.

 

Anyway, then the fun begins. They throw Whozeewhatsit Som-ina-Britch out and then Jeff and Chris ended up conjoining and had a long relationship together, as I guess what with everything the two of them had been through, these two cute guys would make a go of it and not disrupt the Universe. But alas, that too came to an amicable end as neither were ready for the rebound relationship. Wow. Unreal. What a triangle. I tried putting myself in their shoes, looked over at Jerome and we both must have been thinking the same thing. Nope, could not do it. See, I just knew it. They were in a relationship, and still are, but it has progressed into, well, what ever it is now.

 

Chris, earlier in the day at the CC Meet and Greet, handed me his business card. He now works for a Reality TV production company in Philadelphia. Jeff still resides in Florida, where the boys are from. Jeff said that the cruise was such a great deal, it gave he and Chris the opportunity to reconnect, “Hmmmmm“, I thought, but no, just as friends.

 

Chris definitely is the more outgoing of the two, and Jeff has a wonderful innocence about him. The two match like Jerome and I do. However, there is another side to that story. If “Carnival Has The Fun” as Kathy Lee Gifford used to sing in their 1980’s commercials, then Chris took it literally and he Had The Fun. Boy, Oh Boy, did he ever and lots of it. Most of which I cannot repeat here, EVER.

 

But Okay, keeping it very clean and above board, lets just say I can introduce you, later, to one of Chris’ accomplishments on board the FunShip Ecstasy, that came to be known and dubbed as “Hallway Boy.”

 

“I’m Hungry, Let’s Order”

Edited October 13, 2013 by cruiseguys2009

[Kfoot]

OMG!!! :eek: this is so much better than the soaps right now - General Hospital. I just can't keep up. Same sex, same problems as the heterosexual. :p Golly!

[scottsgal]

OMG you are hilarious!! Your stories and flair remind me of my drag queen hair dresser James who dances under the name Ginger Spice. I love going to see him because his stories have me cracking up like yours do.

 

Thanks for the awesome Christmas display you do and the charities you give to. We have 2 rescue pups and it's so awesome you do that - love it when people speak up and help those that can't speak for or help themselves.

 

Carry on - loving this review!

[tbmiller]

This is the most entertaining review I have ever read. I am loving it.

[WLHyatt]

I also find it hilarious that we are not even through the first night. The story could last longer than the actual trip did, which is GREAT!

[jobell]

Oh how this makes me miss you guys. Loving the review and I can just picture it in my mind like a movie.

 

Can't wait for more.

 

xoxo

[cruiseguys2009]

Overall Experience in Main Dining Room

 

Dinner was always fun, the food was very, very good. I ordered my usual array of appetizers each night, about 5 or six, then my entrée. Just like all the other nights, we were happy with the portion sizes, the flavor, the temperatures of the food and were not disappointed in the quality or preparation in the least. There was always something for me to order, and I remember that on only one night, I was not impressed with the evening’s entrée selections. I ordered my old standby, the Flatiron Steak, which was cooked perfectly to medium rare, seasoned the way I like and was very tasty too. The Wind Song Anytime Dining was a big Hit for us.

 

Of course we ordered WCMC and Bitter and Blanc for dessert, and quite frankly, this was the only “Miss” on the entire cruise. (WCMC is Carnival’s signature Warm Chocolate Melting Cake) The WCMC was not like I remembered, and was more like a soupy pudding. It looked and tasted like it was rushed in the preparation and had not been allowed to set properly. The Bitter and Blanc was good, but not as spectacular as on previous sailings, it was rather bland.

 

In my opinion, we were truly impressed with the Main Dining Room Food, and I would certainly rate it a very good B+. Consistency and quality has most definitely improved. What made our experience each night though, was the care and attention to detail that Michael and Setywan provided us. You could also tell that the Maitre ‘D, Hector, ran a very tight ship and had a professional and well disciplined staff, who were on their "A" game throughout the sailing. Therefore, Jerome and I rate the overall dining room experience a solid A.

 

One other note. On our last three sailings on Carnival in ‘09, ‘10 and ‘11, I was completely unimpressed with the Cruise Elegant Night’s dinner. Most particularly the traditional Prime Rib and Lobster Tail. On the Ecstasy, all four of us ordered the Prime Rib and Lobster Tail, and all four of us also requested different temperatures of the meat. Mine being Mid Rare, Jerome was Rare, Chris ordered Medium and Jeff ordered Mid Well. All of our Primes were perfectly seasoned, very flavorful, devoid of excess fat, and most specifically, perfectly presented to us hot, with our desired temperature. We all were “Clean Plate Club” Members that night, and Jerome and I were “Wow’d” yet once again.

 

All the more reason to celebrate this new kind of Carnival. We were impressed with this first night, leaving the Wind Song Dining Room on such a High Note. We were so happy and pleased, ready to get the night started. We decided to head on down to The Society Bar, as the "Friends of Dorothy" had the nightly gathering there. Normally we could care less about these gatherings, but Chris and Jeff were curious to see who else might be lurking on board. What happened next, as we arrived at the bar and tried to order a cocktail, became perhaps the worst Guest experience of Jerome’s and mine entire cruise history.

[cruiseguys2009]

Oh how this makes me miss you guys. Loving the review and I can just picture it in my mind like a movie.

 

Can't wait for more.

 

xoxo

 

 

Oh sure Joelle! You and I did plenty of crazy antics on our cruises, and always got into trouble. Trouble that I certainly could never, ever write about!

 

Both Jerome and Eric always just looked at us shaking their heads. Unfortunately, there is lots of picture evidence that I cannot share either.

 

Great to hear from you!

Edited October 14, 2013 by cruiseguys2009

[mcwebber]

 

Nice cabin decorations.

[mcwebber]

Well, maybe not you exactly, but you may be in there somewhere.

I'm heading out on Ecstasy soon so I'm enjoying your review. As it happens, I was on the RCI Enchantment when you were heading out.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hck0aq29v9u9flg/DSCN0069.JPG is your ship at 4:26pm on 9/23 in the rain.

Looking forward to more of your adventure.

Edited October 14, 2013 by mcwebber
typo

[Bibble]

What happened next, as we arrived at the bar and tried to order a cocktail, became perhaps the worst Guest experience of Jerome’s and mine entire cruise history.

 

O

M

G

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You're really going to just put that out there and leave us hanging???????? REALLY??????? oh man!!!!